Chapter 17 - Saturday at the Park
The following Saturday brought crisp, golden autumn weather, and for the first time in two years, I didn't spend the weekend reviewing spreadsheets or locking myself away in the home office.
We headed down to Lincoln Park near the conservatory.
While Sophie chased fallen amber leaves across the grass and practiced drawing geometric patterns with chalk on the paved walkways, Maya and I sat together on a green wooden bench, sharing a thermos of hot coffee.
“You know, Mr. Harrison,” Maya said casually, watching Sophie laugh as she solved a complex fraction with a piece of blue chalk, “you’re getting a lot better at letting go of the steering wheel.”
I smiled, taking a sip from my cup. “It helps when you have reliable co-pilots keeping you from crashing into walls.”
Maya offered a warm, genuine smile—the kind that carried none of the defensive cynicism she used to wear like armor.
“For the record,” she added quietly, looking down at her sneakers, “calling this place home... it isn't so bad.”
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“It’s your home too, Maya,” I said, resting a hand gently on her shoulder. “Whenever you’re ready for the next horizon, we’re right here behind you.”
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